Israel rejects U.S. request to arm Palestinian police

By Aluf Benn

Haaretz

Nisan 22, 5765

Israel has rejected a proposal by the United
States to supply the Palestinian police officers in the West Bank with
weapons that would assist them in performing their duties.

American
officials have told their Israeli interlocutors over the past few days
that the Palestinian security forces need weapons to help them maintain
order in the territories. In response, the U.S. officials heard a negative
reply from Israeli officials: "Let them first take the weapons from the
terrorists."

The Americans are assisting in training the
Palestinian security forces, and are also interested in supplying them
with appropriate materiel.

The American officials also had praise
for the chairman of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen),
for the way he has handled himself since being elected. As an expression
of their esteem, Abbas will be extended an invitation to the White House
in the middle of May. Before then, he will meet with Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon.

At all of his meetings with foreign dignitaries,
Palestinian Interior Minister Nasser Yousef brings up the demand to arm
the Palestinian police officers in the territories. Yousef says that it is
difficult for them to enforce the law and safeguard security in the West
Bank without weapons.

The U.S.'s security coordinator in the Middle
East, Lieutenant General William Ward, is apparently leaning toward
supporting the Palestinian request.

A political source in Jerusalem
said in response that the Bush administration envoys, Elliott Abrams and
David Welch, raised Yousef's request for arming the Palestinian police
during their visit to Israel last week.

"They only reported to us
on the Palestinian requests. One of the things was to get weapons; they
received a negative answer and that was that," the source said.

A
source within the defense establishment responded that General Ward
maintains constant contact with the Israeli side and meets every week or
10 days with Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz.

According to this same
source, "Ward did not ask to supply the Palestinian police officers with
weapons, but merely asked what Israel's position would be regarding
Russia's request to give the Palestinian police armored vehicles. He was
told that Israel was opposed to this."

Israel made it clear that it
would not allow the entry of armored vehicles into the territories at this
time.